Apparatus for manufacture of axles



' May 5,1925. 7 1,536,777

" c. -R. DAY

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE QF AxLEs May 5, 1925. I 536,777,

-. C. R.- DAY APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF AXLE S O figinEi Filed July 7, 1921 4shegts slfl't 3 Patented May 1925.

UNITED STATES V 1,536,777 PATENT OFFICE.

R. DAY, OF EDGEW OBTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

.APIlARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF AXLES.

Original application-filed July 7, 1921, Serial No. 482,956. Divided and this application med July 18, v

' 1923. Serial No. 652,303.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. DAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgeworth, in the county of Allegheny'and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacture of Axles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of forged articles such as car axles, and has for its object to provide means for forming a substantially completed axle blank by a series of swedging or forging and rolling operations s'uccessively, whereby to transform a billet or blank to the desired shape under a single heat by a series of successive forming treatments. This applicationis a division of my prior application filed July 7, 1921, Serial No. 482,956, for improvements the manufacture of axles.

In the manufacture of axles, it is desirable that the billet or original blank be treated in such manner as to elongate the billet, and at the same time press its fibres in a longitudinal direction from a middle minimum diameter toward each end to a maximum diameter, with an incidental taper and lengthening of the blank and distribution of the metal to the best advantage and economy. I

- Ordinarily, such axles are forged or hammered under'a power press or steam hamtoward one-fend, and then reverse rolling -.and a similar rollin treatment from the middle toward the ot er end, with a corresponding reversal; turning of the blank onequarter revolution, with a repetition of such treatments; and subsequent similar treatments, until the metal is finally distributed, whereby to provide a cylindrical axle blank enlarged from its middle toward each end, in themanner more fully hereinafter described. p

In the drawin and apparatus t erefor,

s, illustrating the operation 'Fi 1 isa diagrammatic view showing the nished blank of an axle between the swedging rolls, in its comparative relation .to the initial billet, indicated in dotted lines;

tively of Fig.1;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7- are cross sections of the middle portion of the blank at corresponding successive steps, showing the gradual shaping of the blanktoward final cylindri-' cal form;

Fig. 8 is a wow in end elevation of the housing for the swedging rolls and the operative cylinders for the upper roll;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view in elevation. showing the complete mechanismindicated by the section line IX-I X of Fig. 10;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is ahorizontal sectional view on the line XI-XI of Fig. 9;

Fi 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showin t e opposite end of the machine; igi 13 is a vertical sectional view on the line IIIXIII of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a cross section of one of the swedging rolls;

Fig.15'is a'detail sectional view showing the upper swedging roll elevated prior to the application of swedging pressure at the commencement of the pperation.

Referring to Fig. l,' the blank A, indicated in dotted lines, is inserted between the upper and lower swedging rolls B and C respectively, in diamond position, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3-, 4 and 15, whereby to effect the initial compression to the minimum diameter at the middle of the axle I), Fig. 3.

Swedging rolls B and C areof the contour illustrated. in the diagrams, Fig. 1, and'are mounted for vertical movement as tothe upper roll B for initial compression,'and for subsequent rotation together, whereby to effeet a primarysqueezing and co-acting rolling operation on the axle from the middle toward one end and then towards the other, in the manner stated. Each roll B and C is provided with a suitable groove entirely around its periphery, and each is formed partly of a truly concentric are 2 and an eccentric arc 3'extending between the shouldered portions 4:4 of each roll.

The highest or middle portions of the eccentric enlargement 3 of each roll. defined by radius R, oppose each other in the initial positions of the rolls, the eccentric enlargement tapering circumferentially towards each shoulder 4, as indieatedby the dotted concentric line 5, Fig. 1. These portions of the rolls form the middle tapered portion of the axle D. The intervening concentric portion 2 of each roll, defined by radius 1', form the enlarged cylindrlcal end portions (1.

The lower roll C is mounted by its journals in the bearings 6, 6, for rotation only through box coupling 7 from shaft of gear 8 mounted in bearings of housing frames 9, 9, and is rotated through pinion 10 of shaft 11, which is journalled in bearings at the upper portion thereof.

' Up er roll B rotates simultaneously with roll 5 through gearing 810 and coupling 12, but in addition to its rolling function is also separately operable for initial compression of the axle against roll C as an anvil, by vertical movement of a supporting cross head 13, having depending journal bearings 14. To facilitate such movement, the coupling 12 is slid'ably separable by means of a middle extension 15 of the coupling ter minal of shaft of roller B interfitting between the lateral cheeks of the coupling terminal or shaft 11, as will be readily understood.

Cross head 13 and roll B are raised for insertion of the billet by plungers 16, 16, having heads operable by hydraulic pressure within cylinders 17, 17, and the cross head and roll are lowered under similar pressure by a plunger'l8 of cylinder 19. the several cylinders being conveniently bored in a single casting, if desired. Pressure is distributed to and from cylinders 17 by suitable pipe connections and controlling valves, and to cylinder 19 bya similar controlled flow through pipe 21, as will'be readily understood;

For the purpose of rotating the rolls B, C, together and reversing them to effect the tapered reduction towards each end, shaft 11 is provided with a pinion 22 which is alternately actuated by one or the other of racks 23, 24, in mesh with the pinion at opposite sides, the downward movement of one rack acting to assist .in elevating the other through the pinion, as indicated ir Fig. 13. Each-rack is provided with a plun v,ger 25, 26, respectively, operable in cylinders27, 28, carried above the main bed plate by columns 29. Each rack is provided w'th a cross head 30, slidably mounted on the columns, and connecting it with the pressing plunger 25-26 of cylinders-2728, and also with the plungers 31-31 of coacting lifting cylinders 32-32 and 33-33 respectively incorporated with the pressing cylinders 2728 at each side. Pressure is distributed to and from each pressing cylinder 27-28 posite each other.

by suitable valve controlled pipe connections 34, while pressure is also supplied to and withdrawn from lifting cylinders 32-33 bv similar controlled pipe connections 36, properly arranged for the intended operation, as will be readily understood.

The operation of forming the axle and the construction and functions of the apparatus disclosed will be readily understood from the foregoing description. Roll B being elevated by pull back plungers 16 of lifting cylinders 17, the billet is inserted between the rolls as in Fig. 15, and high pressure is supplied to plunger 18 of cylinder 19, coupling 12 being in normal middle position for sliding connection, the high points of the eccentric faces of the rolls B and C being o'p- Thereupon, the billet is squeezed down to the desired minimum diameter, the excess metal flowing at top and bottom towards the ends, and to a slight ex tent laterally outward between the rolls. High pressure is then admitted to either one of cylinders'27 or 28, rotating the rolls for reduction of the billet from its middle to one end with reversal back to the middle by operation of the plunger-s of .the appropriate lifting cylinders 32 or Thereupon, high pressure is admitted to the other high pressure cylinder 27 or 28 and then to the appropriate lifting cylinders to effect similar rolling and reverse of the other half of the billet, back to the middle.

The billet now being reduced to the desired templet diameter throughout its length, roll 13 is elevated and the billet, or blank in process, is rotated one quarter revolution, roll B is lowered under high pressure to the same extent as formerly, and the successive endwise rolling treatments just described are repeated. Th s operation is again repeated two or more times, until all excess metal is reduced, the resulting product being in the form of the axle dD-d of Fig. 1 of cylindrical cross. section throughout.

By this treatment, the initial compression reduces the billet at the middle and the successive rolling operations by the eccentric faces, radius R, extend at each operation to the shoulder. Thereafter, outwardly to the ends, the concentric faces, radius 7, act on the blank to reduce it to uniform diameter throughout the end portions 03, more or less, which finally assume their full length at the end of the operation.

It will be seen that at each pressing and rolling operation the blank is advanced towards its final form, and that the excess mum of time and expense. The end portions (1 may then be cut off to proper length and turned for the Wheel seats, journals,

the invention to the making of axles, nor

to the use of a square billet, as round or other shapes may be used equally well. Also, that various changes or modifications may be made in the apparatus as to its specific construction or details, without departing from the invention as defined in. the following claims.

What I claim is: I

1. Apparatus for forming axles or the like from a hot blank comprising an upper and a lower roll having co-acting eccentric and concentric faces, meansfonadvancing and withdrawing the upper roll towards and from the lower, a drive shaft for the lower roll, a'drive shaft for the upper roll geared therewith, relativelyslidable coupling members between the upper roll and its drive shaft providing for raising and lowering of the upper roll when said coupling members are in vertical register, and alternately operable driving mechanism cared with one of said shafts for rotating t in opposite directions. 7

2. Apparatus for forming axles or the like from a hot blank comprising an upper and a lower roll having co-acting eccentric and concentric faces, means for advancing and withdrawing the upper roll towards and from the lower, a drive shaft for the lower vroll, a drive shaft for the upper roll geared therewith, relatively slidable cou pling members between the upper roll and its drive shaft providin' P for raising and lowering of the upper rol whensaid coupling members are in vertical register, and fluid actuated means geared with one of said shafts for rotating it in one direction or the other embodying fluid actuated retracting mechanism.

, 3. Apparatus for forming axles or the like from a hot blank comprising an upper and a lower roll having co-acting eccentric and concentric faces, means foradvancrng and withdrawing the upper roll towards and. from the lower, a drlve shaft for the lower roll, a drive shaft for the upper roll geared therewith, relatively slidable couling members between the upper roll and its drive shaft providing for raising and lowering of the upper roll when said coupling members are in vertical register, a pinion on one of said drive shafts, a pair of rack bars geared therewith at opposite sides, and fluid actuated mechanism for applying power to each rack bar.

4;. Apparatus for forming axles or the like from a hot blank comprising an upper and. a lower roll having co-acting eccentric concentric faces, means for advancing and withdrawing the upper roll towards and from the lower, a drive shaft for the lower roll, a drive shaft for the upper roll geared therewith, relatively slidable coupling members between the upper roll and its drive shaft providing for raising and lowering of the upper roll when said coupling members are in vertical register, a pinion on one of said drive shafts, a pair of rack bars geared therewith at opposite sides, fluid actuated mechanism for applying power to each rack bar and co-acting fluid actuated mechanism for retracting each rack bar.

5. In apparatus for rolling car axles, a drive shaft having a pinion, a rack barinand gear with each opposite side of the pinion,

.6. In apparatus for rolling car'axles, a i

drive shaft having a pinion, a rack bar in gear with each opposite side of the pinion, a cross head for each rack bar, a fluid actuated pressing plunger engaging each cross head, and fluid actuated retracting mechanism connected to each cross head.

7 In a mill of the class described, the combination with a lower roll and its drive shaft, of an upper roll havin a vertically movable coupling, a drive s'aft therefor geared with the lower roll drive shaft, and a coupling on the upper roll drive shaft engaging the' vertically movable coupling of the upper roll, each of said couplings having inter-engaging tongue and oove portions adapted to provide for rot-ative transmission of power and for vertical adjustment of the upper roll when said portions are in vertical register.

In testimony whereof I hereunto. alfix my. signature. 

